Phil Lesh, founding member and bassist of the Grateful Dead, passed away peacefully on Friday morning at the age of 84, surrounded by family. The news was shared via a post on his official Instagram account.
“Phil brought immense joy to everyone around him and leaves behind a legacy of music and love,” the post read, requesting privacy for the Lesh family during this time.
Born in a suburb of San Francisco, Lesh began his musical journey with the classical violin before shifting to the trumpet, drawing inspiration from German composer Karlheinz Stockhausen. In 1965, Jerry Garcia invited Lesh to join The Warlocks, which soon evolved into the Grateful Dead, where Lesh’s innovative bass playing became a signature element of their sound.
After the Grateful Dead’s dissolution, Lesh continued performing with his jazz-oriented group, Phil and Friends. He is survived by his wife, Jill, and their two sons, Grahame and Brian.